The Millionaires Cruise of 1929

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The Millionaires Cruise of 1929

in the beginning

It's September 1929.

The jazz is hot and 'The Twenties' are in full roar. The nation's wealth has more than doubled since we ended 'The Great War to End All Wars', and economic growth has swept many Americans into an affluent, but unfamiliar, consumer society.

America declares her days of self-imposed isolation are over.

Her national anthem plays more frequently as her citizens step forward to assume increasingly greater roles on the world's stage.

The word is out... Americans show they can play just as hard as they can fight.

At this time, passengers traveling between continents via ocean liners are routinely treated not all that different than 'cargo'. Regardless of the ship's utilitarian purpose, passenger liners are still perceived to be mere ocean-crossing ferries.

But, William P. Roth, president of Matson Navigation Company, puts forth a different point-of-view. His vision of passengers being 'tourists with money' will soon become an industry transforming paradigm. Roth entices the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce to organize a 'Round the Pacific Cruise' aboard the "SS Malolo", his company's newly constructed, luxury ocean liner.

This unique 'stay-on-board' tour becomes an instant sell-out.

On September 21, 1929, three hundred and fifty-six millionaires set sail from San Francisco on an ambitious ninety-day, twenty-four thousand mile odyssey aboard the fastest and most luxurious ship in the Pacific.

Thirty-eight days into the tour, somewhere between the American governed Philippines and French colonial Saigon, passengers receive news about stock markets crashing around the globe.

Quite understandably, this face-slapping news dramatically impacts many of the passenger's financial portfolios.

Nearly ninety years have passed since this first 'Round the Pacific Cruise'. Since then, this little known pioneering journey continues to gain worldwide recognition as the seminal moment when a whole new industry was born. In the last ten years alone, demand for leisure cruising has increased sixty-eight percent. This modern, ocean-going pastime presently captures the attention of twenty-four million passengers annually generating forty-billion dollars in direct revenues; perhaps more than one hundred and twenty billion dollars overall when one considers the impact upon peripheral economies.

Modern Day Leisure Cruising

Good news, folks... 'we no longer need to be millionaires'.

The Movie Trailer

A short trailer promoting the documentary about the 1929 tour of the Pacific aboard the SS Malolo

The Movie Trailer

A short trailer promoting the documentary about the 1929 tour of the Pacific aboard the SS Malolo

About Us

History of the California Pioneers of Santa Clara County

About Us

History of the California Pioneers of Santa Clara County

About us

The CALIFORNIA PIONEERS of SANTA CLARA COUNTY is a non-profit organization founded in 1875 to preserve and promote the history of the 'VALLEY OF HEART'S DELIGHT', a region more commonly known today as 'SILICON VALLEY'.

One of the many ways we accomplish this is through our historic Film Transfer and Preservation Program. In early 2014, we received a contribution of family films from the 1920's which totally amazed us. Inside a large cardboard box, among many films of local interest, we discovered ten reels (two hours) of vintage 16mm film tucked neatly inside a one gallon galvanized can, a hold-over from the valley's fruit canning operations.

The film canisters were simply labeled "MALOLO". A quick search of the internet and we soon discovered this reference was to the "STEAM SHIP MALOLO", credited by many to be one of the first modern ocean liners specifically designed with 'leisure cruising' in mind. We became mesmerized by these never-before-viewed moving images

It was at this moment our own personal journey began. We soon discover these moving images were taken in late 1929 by the donor's great-grandfather, LOUIS O. NORMANDIN, while traveling aboard the SS Malolo on her first 'ROUND THE PACIFIC CRUISE'. The cruise consisted of an extensive ninety day, twenty-four thousand mile journey which called at nineteen ports in fourteen countries.

As historians, we wanted to know more, but unfortunately, there was very little information available. It seemed like the only way to reconstruct the story behind these films was to do our own independent research. It didn't take long to confirm our suspicions about the importance of these films.

Our initial research began with online genealogical websites where we discovered a copy of THE SHIP'S PASSENGER LIST containing the names of three hundred and fifty-six passengers who were on board. This document became our 'Rosetta Stone' as we set out to make contact with as many of the passenger's living descendants as possible.

Now, after three years of research, we have surprisingly gathered almost six hours of 16 mm film, more than one thousand still photos, seven journals, eight diaries... even 'letters home' written by a member of the ship's orchestra. Our collection of donated passenger film includes an 800 foot reel 'in living color', the oldest known moving images of Japan and China in color. We also have a pass key to stateroom #143... a compact double bed suite located on C- Deck. From these combined resources, we have succeeded in the identification of various passengers, then matched personal images with their literary contributions.

We dedicate this documentary to these families who thoughtfully preserved their ancestor's many fascinating narratives and incredible images from this historic journey... then enthusiastically shared them with us so others may be able to revisit this momentous lost moment in time. We would especially like to acknowledge and thank profusely the family who shared the original cache of film which sparked our own journey. More specifically, his grandson, Lon Nomandin, and great-grandson, Paul Normandin.

You can save a Rare piece of film history

You can save a Rare piece of film history

HELP!

During the course of producing our documentary, we received donations of film, photographs, diaries, journals and other forms of memorabilia, from the descendants of passengers aboard the SS Malolo in 1929.

We received one 800 ft. reel of film taken during the ship's layover in Japan and China by passenger Dr. Ormond Wall of Hawaii. His footage was shot using Kodak's newest line of film,Kodacolor. Only recently, have they discovered a digital method to pull-out the original colors from the few remaining Kodacolor films which still exist.

We have established a 'GoFundMe' account to raise the funds needed to preserve this specific reel. Once this is accomplished, the film will be recognized as the oldest known moving images of Japan and China in original color.

It is our desire to ultimately gift these rare moving images to the archival film repositories for each country. Please help us reach our goal by contributing whatever amount you can. These films are fragile and time is of the essence.

Day 13 - Finally, we arrive in our first port-of-call. Yokohama was laid low by the great earthquake of 1923. If the weather gods are kind, the glorious cone of Fujiyama will be seen from many miles out at sea. Commodore Perry's historic anchorage site will be passed just before we enter the harbor.

Day 17 - Tokyo suffered severely in spots from the disaster of 1923, but large areas of the city escaped with little damage. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, having well over two million inhabitants. It is a place which ranks well with other great capitals of the world. Tokyo is decidedly modern Japan. The Imperial Hotel is one of the most intriguing and artistic buildings of the world. It, as well as all the hotel's furnishings, were designed by Mr. Frank Lloyd Wright of Chicago for the Japanese government.

Day 19 - Nara, Japan, is a place of genuine antiquity, peace, and loveliness. Founded in 710 AD as Japan's capital, it continued as such until the year 784. Six hundred tame deer roam at will through Nara Park which contains 1,250 acres. the largest of the three gigantic bronze Buddhas is found here. At the clarion of a bugler, the deer rush into an assemblage begging to be hand-fed by visitors.

Day 25 - Arrive in the harbor at Chinwangtao, China, to catch a special train to Peiping which has been arranged for us by the good people of American Express. Peiping was founded more than 3,000 years ago and it has been the capital of the Chinese most of that period. the population is estimated to be at 1,331,880 composed mostly of Chinese, Mongolians, and Manchus.

Day 30 - Arrive Shanghai, one of the many "Paris of the East". The Bund which skirts the Whangpoo riverfront presents to arriving ships a surprising imitation of a Western metropolis. Mexican silver dollars are Shanghai's most common tender for any of you who are going shopping.

Day 34 - Hong Kong has a fascination about it which is as compelling as it is baffling to describe. While it has been a British colony since it was ceded to Great Britain in 1841, the Chinese far outnumber the whites, and the resulting city life grown from the unusual mixture is certainly like no other city in the Orient.

Day 38 - The Philippines were discovered and named by the bold Spaniard Magellan back in 1521, on that famed circumnavigating voyage that stirred the world. Magellan did not complete the voyage for he was killed in the island of Cebu, not far from where he landed. Be mesmerized by the drill exercise by prisoners at Bilibid Prison.

Day 42 - Twisting, winding, looping, the Saigon River connects that city with the sea. Saigon is the Administrative Capital of French Indo-China, of which there are five provinces: Annam, Cambodia, Laos, Tongking, and Indo-China. Saigon is the natural gateway through which one passes into the vast hinter-land of jungle and tribes-folk, which is all that remains of that civilization except smothered ruins.

Day 45 - The Kingdom of Siam is especially friendly towards the United States. With a population of over three-quarters of a million, the capital and chief port of Siam is situated about 25 miles upstream from the bar in the delta of the Menam River.

Day 47 - Singapore is at the cross-roads of the world. Nearly everyone who circumnavigates must pass that way. It is the world's chief rubber and tin shipping centre. Ships of every flag and of every type will be found in its harbor and men of every race can be seen on its streets.

Day 49 - Neptune and his cronies hijack the Malolo searching for virgin travelers who have yet to traverse the Equator. Beware! This band of misfits will order you to appear before their court where they will be initiated into the mysteries of his Empire. Resistance is futile, as you risk being given as food to the monsters of the deep as a warning to all other land-lubbers entering his domain.

Day 50 - Tandjong Priok is the port for Batavia, Java. Little gets into the newspapers about the Dutch East Indies. Based on square miles, the Netherland Indies are probably the richest colonial empire in the world. Java is like a great garden from end to end except where the volcanic ranges raise their heights into the cloud-stuffed skies.

Day 57 - Fremantle is the seaport of Perth, itself a short distance up the Swan River, being the capital of the state of West Australia. Fremantle's splendid bathing beaches will catch our eye and the scenery up the river and round about is especially note-worthy.

Day 62 - Melbourne is the finest city on the continent. It prides itself on agricultural and artistic achievement. It was founded less than one hundred years ago; yet is today one of the world's largest cities. No doubt every visitor leaves Melbourne with a totally different idea of Australians than he had when he arrived.

Day 66 - The fame of Sydney's harbor is known to every mariner. It has no equal, for size and beauty, although Hong Kong and Rio de Janeiro run a close rivalry. Its shoreline is actually hundreds of miles long, her narrow, deep bays are enough for quite large craft to navigate. The inhabitants of Sydney seem to take life rather more leisurely than we Americans do. Men and women go in for outdoor sports more than any other people we encounter on the cruise.

Day 72 - "Last, loneliest, loveliest' city of the British Empire as Kipling fondly called it. New Zealand's two long, main islands stretch north and south over an enormous distance. We highly suggest you book early for the tour to Rotorua for a picturesque travel to Whakarewarewa where you will inspect the thermal sights and a Maori model Pa (village).

Day 78 - The Fiji Islands are now under the mandate of Australia. Suva is the principal city and the capital. Nearly 250 islands compose the group, but only 80 are inhabited. About 4,000 Europeans live among the 85,000 native Fijians, and over 60,000 labor-immigrants from India. Fiji possesses perhaps the most healthful tropical climate in the world.

Day 79 - Pago Pago is the name of an American naval base in the island of Tuituila of the Samoan Group. Nature has made it a natural naval base, for it is a volcano crater in which a break has occurred on one side. The jagged peak of "Rainmaker" dominates the harbor over whose top the ever-changing cloud effects are magnificent. Robert Louis Stevenson died at Apia nearby.

Day 84 - Hilo is the largest city on the largest island of Hawaii. Its sugar export is enormous for the island. Its highest point is Mauna Loa, often reaching into the realm of snow with its base in coral waters.

Day 85 - Most visitors are surprised to find the streets and business section of this city not unlike Los Angeles or Santa Barbara. It is practically an American town. Take note of Diamond Head Crater near Waikiki Beach as we near our arrival into port. It is probably the most beautiful beach in the world, behind which rises the Punch Bowl, another extinct crater. Our time here will pass all too quickly and we shall no doubt leave with regrets.

Day 90 - We finally arrive home after three months at sea, calling on nineteen ports in fourteen countries. No doubt, you have made many friendships, not only on board, but also from foreign lands. We hope you have enjoyed your journey.

Make sure to tip your Steward.

Film Production

THIS IS WHERE WE WRITE

GLOWINGLY ABOUT WHAT

A WONDERFUL FILM

WE'VE MADE.

COMING SOON!

Film Production

THIS IS WHERE WE WRITE

GLOWINGLY ABOUT WHAT

A WONDERFUL FILM

WE'VE MADE.

COMING SOON!

r. helin

WRITER/DIRECTOR

Raised in Hawaii, Rick traveled to the mainland in 1965 to attend San Jose State from where he received a BA degree in Psychology. Rick briefly performed the duties of a Superior Court Deputy Probation Officer before going on to complete a successful thirty-two year career as a Mortgage Banker. Upon his retirement, Rick dedicated more of his time toward volunteer work, digitizing vintage film on behalf of the California Pioneers of Santa Clara County. Rick's personal video site can be found at:

b. foley

PRODUCER

Bill's roots in our community run deep. We credit his contagious love for history and and his knowledge of high-tech capabilities for ultimately inspiring us to preserve our fading moments of history through film preservation. As the steadfast trailblazer on our film restoration team, it is through Bill's leadership and unwavering love of history this unique documentary has come to fruition.

d. BARCELLOS

ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK

A native of Santa Clara County, Dale's music experience runs deep, having produced and toured with a series of amazing musical acts. His ability to play multiple instruments has helped him fine-tune his expertise in Music Composition and Audio Production. Dale returned to San Jose State in 2005 where he received his BA in Art Education, then shared his expertise in advanced multimedia skills, graphic design, art and photography, to secondary students for the next ten years.